KARACHI, March 16: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has ruled out any possibility of governor’s rule in the province saying that when an elected, democratic and stable government is functioning why one would like to destabilize it or why the federal government would like to change it. The chief minister, who was addressing a press conference in his Assembly chamber on Wednesday during Zohr prayers, said such speculations could be the work of those who were not in the government and keen to come to power from the backdoor.
He referred to the reported ongoing talks of PPP with the establishment and pointed out that President Musharraf had already made it clear that they could join him after elections of 2007.
The chief minister denied the impression about putting break in his drive against the corruption after sacking of his revenue minister Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh and said that the law would take its course saying that he did not like to be accused of victimizing opponents.
In reply to a question about the advertisement issued to the press in response to the baseless allegations against him by Imtiaz Shaikh, he said that it was his right to clarify his position. “If the position of chief executive of the province was tarnished how he could clarify the position?” he asked.
He waved two sets of documents and said that he would clarify his position with the help of documents if the privilege motion on the order of the day.
The privileged motion, moved by Syed Qaim Ali Shah, did not fall in category of breach of his privilege if the federal government had sent prime minister’s inspection team for veracity of allegations on the request of a complainant.
“This cannot be termed interference by the centre as sending the PM’s inspection team was to check sneer campaign against the chief minister,” he added.
He dispelled the impression that the federal government had asked him to stop further action against the sacked minister and said the cases were under process. In two cases Imtiaz Shaikh had been challaned and warrants of arrest had been issued by the court. However, he said, he could not say if he was not returning to Sindh from fear of his arrest, the time would tell you whether his arrest was possible.
About owning of flats in London by Imtiaz Shaikh, the chief minister said that he got this matter verified from his private resources but now the matter would be investigated by the federal government through the Pakistan High Commission in London.
To another question, he said removing Imtiaz Shaikh from the office of Secretary-General of PML Sindh chapter would be taken by the party. His removal was an administrative decision and the aim of visiting Karachi by the prime minister’s inspection team was to find out whether the action of provincial government was a victimization case.
